My Life as Elvis

I wanted to write or at least try to write why just why do I "do" Elvis. It is hard to explain but it comes from my love of performing obviously also my love of Elvis. It is infectious at times to walk the streets in my Elvis garb and experience the smiles Elvis puts on peoples faces. It is more than that though and I did not count on this happening I always thought that it was a passing thing just something I do to get some extra money. But it expanded into more as people get more into it I get more into it and more reverent of the mystique of Elvis. It cannot be said enough that the reason Elvis has spawned such a following is his incredible talent. Even completely high on several prescription drugs his voice is still amazing and he is still gorgeous. Simply awesome and when I am King Kruk I get a residual buzz a ripple effect for example if Elvis was the "Big Bang" he still effects the rest of us and we enjoy fleeting moments of glory when we really nail a song or sometimes even a whole set.
The terrible thing is that most people are not so discerning of their Elvis often just some guy in a jumpsuit can pass himself off as an Elvis Tribute Artist and even get gigs in his "booger" Elvis outfit and terrible voice. These are the "joke" Elvi
whom make me cringe and want to just grab the people who hire them by the lapels of their leisure suit and say "what the hell are you thinking! That guy is a Fookin Joke!!" But people are what they are and often just go for some cheap hack instead of trying to give their loved ones a real show from someone who puts his hearty and soul into it. We are out there so please if you want Elvis go with someone who actually looks and sounds at least a little like him. Not just some guy in a jumpsuit! - King Kruk

Elvis Contests

The middle of June gave me my first experience in the world of Elvis Impersonator/Tribute Artist contests. The contest was at the Pechanga Casino in Temecula Ca. a mere 30 miles North of my home. I didn't know what to expect at all, I had been following all the famous Elvis Artists former winners of the Ultimate Elvis contests and didn't know who would be there. Since the prize was a hefty $5000 I figured some heavy hitters would be there, and I was right. I mentioned that I have only been doing this since April I don't have the costumes that most guys have but I pulled a few together and made a decent showing. I made it into the top five out of 15 guys which was pretty awesome. I ended up placing fourth only 2 points behind the third place guy who doesn't look remotely close to Elvis but can sing really well (Not like Elvis) but has an fantastic voice.You can view my video of "American Trilogy" here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlgNxPOwjyo

San Diego County Fair

I entered another contest set for June 28th at the formerly named Del Mar Fair. This time I was ready armed with some more popular songs and didn't have the need to change costumes so I could simply wear my best suit and let it roll. I WON I beat out the second place contestant and third place contestant from Pechanga so I felt really great about that. All in all these are great experiences its nerve wracking but really fun to meet the other guys I guess we are all a bit crazy and it is a weird thing to do professionally but it beats workin!
here is a video link form the Fair
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-pCM-YCHyQ&feature=related

New Look of King Kruk

Saved By Violin

I had been growing my hair for several years I had a long pony tail in the back was a full blown "Longhair" But with my contests coming up I wanted to use my real hair as Elvis. I chose a very expensive hair salon to do the job. I brought several pictures of as many angles as Elvis circa 1972-1974 as I could. I first showed the manager some pictures and asked if they could cut my hair like the pictures, he said that they could. I was introduced to the hairstylist and showed her the pictures and asked if she could cut my hair like the pictures and she said she could. First Red Light went off in my head when she barely looked at the pictures, I mistook this for confidence. She washed my hair and I explained the importance of my hair for the upcoming contest. She then went to work and almost before I knew it cut my hair waaaaaaay too short I am talking short like Elvis in the army. First chop of my ponytail and my Elvis "DO" was destroyed but my hair was wet and maybe just maybe she knew what she was doing. Well she didn't I was so mad I couldn't speak.

I searched all the local wig shops hair extension salons, you name it, no luck everything was too expensive. Then my savior at Hair Unlimited Andrew looked through his shop and said he found something that may work. I went in and saw a strange girly wig but it was black. Losing hope and becoming depressed in walked Violin (can't be her real name)
She is a beautiful Asian lady of a certain age who worked a miracle on that wig and now I have some award winning "Elvis Hair" so I guess everything worked out for the best. Thank you fine wonderful folks at Hair Unlimited especially Violin the miracle worker! I will post photo's soon.

King Kruk Going for "Ultimate" Title

Tats right folks King Kruk was selected to compete in the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist contest June 19th 20th and 21st at Pachenga Casino in Temecula California.
The winner get $5000 and a chance to compete at the finals in Memphis. I can do it the only thing that some other guys have better than me is costumes soem of these fella's have more than $25,000 Worth of costumes. Not poor King Kruk with all my wives and kids I just don't have the dough to shell out for such things. i guess I will have to rely on talent charisma and good old fashioned showmanship then when I win buy me one of them fancy jumpsuits with a cape all flush with rhinestones and crystals. Watch me do it!

Also I was selected as one of six Elvis tribute Artists to perform at the San Diego (del Mar) Fair June 28th I go on last and have 15 minutes to state my case that i am the best there is in this area. Watch me do that Too!

Ivey Ranch Elementary and King Kruk

About a week ago I performed at the Ivey Ranch Elementary "Sock Hop"
I didn't know how the kids would react to Elvis (King Kruk) but was quite pleasantly surprised. From the second I entered I felt like the real King kids shrieked and screamed like it was 1971 all over again. The crowd wasn't even born when Elvis was alive in fact a few Moms probably were not alive when Elvis was alive.
You can hear the reaction of the kids Here I would like to think the kids reaction was for me but that is the trap of Elvis tribute artists to believe that they are actually as great as the man they impersonate. While we look and sound close we can never hope to be as good or have the impact that Elvis did. We fulfill a void perhaps and try to re-connect a link to history that sadly was taken from us too soon. Neverthless it still makes me feel great when the crowd cheers I guess I get a little taste of what it was like to be Elvis, and it makes being an Elvis tribute artist pretty awesome.

Grand Opening of www.kingkruk.com

I am proud to announce your one stop for all things King Kruk is now at www.kingkruk.com stop by for more photo's more tunes and all my latest videos.
Stay tuned for the video of Saturday May 16's Video of King Kruk's performance at a San Clemente Sock hop! Plus you can always type in budbutcher at youtube and see all my videos there too!

King Kruk

Some fantastic pictures taken by the most fabulous Alex Kruk

King Kruk Lookin' Sharp in his Lanskey shirt

About ten years ago I was able to get on down to Memphis and visited Bernard Lanskey at his shop at the Peabody Hotel. I wandered in and at first Bernard wasn't there but someone must have told him there was some Elvis lookin dude perusing the merchandise. After about a half an hour Mr. Lanskey walked in and gave me that million dollar smile of a born salesman and he knew he had me hooked. It was actually his clothes that reeled me in . He had some beautifully tailored shirts on a rack all isolated and alone with the "Clothier to the King" label on them.
I was torn between a nifty silver number made out of some fine velvet or the very one you see in the pictures here. Bernard and I talked all things Elvis for the better part of three quarters of an hour and I tried on various shirts and a few trousers but the striped shirt kept catching my eye.
He said "It's got you don't it?"
I said "I reckon it does."
Mr. Lanskey said "well, You better buy two then, In case you lose one."
I bought one and I haven't lost it yet take a look folks King Kruk looking sharp in a design from the Kings original clothier Bernard Lanskey.

KING KRUK

King Kruk

Coming to a party near you.

New Videos by King Kruk

I am preparing for several contests in June and have been filming my performances whenever I can which is difficult. It is difficult as my wife must do the filming and we have three kids who don't always understand the concept of being quiet. I have supreme faith that anyone who sees my show will agree they are extremely entertaining. That said please watch the videos and let me know what you think.
http://http://alexkruk.com/#/gallery-elvis-2/ photos and information.

Gigmasters - Booking Elvis Impersonators Online Since 1997

Check the Gigmasters site for new movies every week or so. Its free and it will cheer you up,
with love
King Kruk

C.C. Rider Live!

Oh see what King Kruk has done.

To book King Kruk

Gigmasters - Booking Elvis Impersonators Online Since 1997

Buddhist Elvis- King Kruk

I was graciously asked to sing for the World Peace and Prayer meeting at the SGI Buddhist meeting in San Marcos California, with the exception of the shoddy p.a. system I think it went over quite well. The fantastic thing about SGI Buddhism is that it is so forward thinking to see the strange and mighty power of Elvis to move people and also see that laughter is the best medicine and a very powerful tool of peace.

How King Kruk Got Started

Sometimes I think that this is really crazy like I should be gainfully employed suckling the teat of destroyed corporate America, Instead of zipping up a gabardine jumpsuit and crooning like The King. Well I guess I don't know any better and it sure is fun. Moreover it is such a rush when people see Elvis come onstage they automatically grin and yearn for the good old days when Elvis was still alive and gyrating on a stage near you. I am proud to uphold a tradition of great songs and to catch a spark from the original King and kindle it and add a little of my own mojo to the mix to give the audience a small taste what a talent Elvis was. It truly is a testament to him and his awesome talent that tribute artists can make a living being Elvis.
Originally I was an actor and I really still am I approach being Elvis just as any other role first I try to feel him and work towards the outward appearance, of course I have listened to his recordings a million times and watched every piece of film I possibly could also. About ten years ago I got the opportunity to audition for Steve Martin who wrote a play called "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" it was his first play but since he was a movie star and a damned good writer it was a big deal. I was living in Oakland at the time so I dyed my hair black and hopped on a plane to L.A. for my big audition. I was nervous as hell because Steve was going to be there and Steve had met Elvis while working in Vegas, so I had to be real and not just a "Thank you, thank you very much" type of Elvis. Well I got the part and was Elvis for about 500 performances over two years. I didn't have to sing in the show, but I always had a voice similar to Elvis in fact when I played in my band Fake Booby Judy and recorded people would tell me to stop singing like Elvis but hell I couldn't.
Fast forward to this year I now have a new wife and three kids and have lived in Europe and have kept my "King" in the closet for several years so to speak, my brother reads about an Elvis Karaoke contest in San Diego and the prize is $300 not bad. So me and my brother head on down and I wind up winning the damn thing beating out the best and some of the worst Elvis impersonators in San Diego. I get to thinking hey I can do this and I go out and buy a jumpsuit (black as it fits my personality better) and the best microphone I can afford and the best backing tracks I can find, and King Kruk or Kruked Elvis was born !

Kruked Elvis

We wandered around my apartment complex today and took a few pictures. The best part was the UPS man came today and I answered the door as Elvis he said "Is this the Presley residence?" I said "Naw I'm Englebert Humperdink."
I got my Gigrac600 PA mixer now all I need is my Telefunken M-80 and I am in business.